What's The Show About?
Aired since September 23rd, 2003, NCIS is an action police drama that centers on the lives of a team of special agents that work for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Just like in any other procedural show, its characters must investigate all sorts of felonies while at the same time battling their personal and emotional struggles. But is this show any different from the rest of its genre?
It Was Originally A Spin-Off
NCIS is a major success in its own right, but what many people don't know is that it was originally conceived as a spin-off from JAG. In fact, the NCIS team was first introduced in two episodes of the aforementioned series — namely, on episodes 20 and 21 of Season 8.
When producers finally set forth on creating a whole new show, little could they have imagined that it would eventually become one of the longest-running series in TV history. In fact, to this day, NCIS spans a whopping 17 seasons and 344 episodes. Beat that!
Its Ratings Increase Each Year
NCIS could well be compared to a fine bottle of wine, as its quality increases as the years go by. This is mirrored in the fact that its total amount of viewers has been steadily increasing ever since 2003.
All in all, the series has an average of 11.094 million viewers per season, while Pauley Perrette's departure on Season 15 reached the peak of 15 million viewers. But this isn't the show's only breakthrough.
Multiple Awards
Considering it's the second longest-running procedural show in American TV (only surpassed by Law & Order), it comes as no surprise that the show has received its fair share of awards.
In fact, NCIS has received 5 Primetime Emmy nominations and a few People's Choice Awards. All in all, the show boasts 27 wins and 39 nominations. But what's the secret behind its success?
Enduring Characters
Fans and critics alike believe that the key to the show's whopping success lies in its enduring characters. Viewers seem to have rewarded the show's consistency with their loyalty, as the ratings continue to rocket to this day.
On the other hand, unlike other procedural shows, the characters on NCIS have experienced some significant changes. This helps fans establish a stronger sense of connection than they would with otherwise dull characters.
Character Change In Season 8
However, introducing changes to a show's enduring characters has proven to be a double-edged sword. While these transformations can make the plot more thrilling, writers are also faced with the risk of receiving backlash from fans.
Whenever a character does something against their true nature or even when a character undergoes any noticeable physical change, fans go crazy. Well, this is exactly what happened in season 8 of NCIS when Timothy McGee's character underwent a significant change...
The Transformation In Timothy's Character
American actor Sean Murray has been portraying Timothy McGee since the very start of the series. Timothy was initially portrayed as a courteous and shy nerd but evolved into a totally different character.
In fact, as the seasons went by, we witnessed how Timothy went from being a soft-spoken computer geek to a tough Senior Field Agent. However, it wasn't the transformation in Timothy's personality what bothered fans the most...
The Shift In Timothy's Voice
In season 8, Timothy's character underwent a more obvious transformation that received great backlash and triggered a major debate.
For some reason, the actor's soft-pitched voice switched to a hoarse growl, leaving everyone baffled. But what happened? Was it a character choice or was it the actor's real-life voice what changed?
Maybe It Was His Healthy Living
Many rumors have been spread as to what really triggered the change in Timothy's voice. Apparently, many people believe it was a consequence of some positive changes in his lifestyle.
To begin with, Murray lost a lot of weight throughout the first seasons, and on top of that, he quit smoking. Therefore, it's likely that the change in his pitch was a direct result of both weight loss and a healthier lifestyle combined. But has the actor commented on the issue?
Murray's Tweet
A few days after the eighth season of NCIS was premiered in September 2010, actor Sean Murray shared on Twitter how he had managed to lose so much weight.
> "To those who have asked what I did to lose the 25 lbs: 14 months of no alcohol and almost no sugar. ate strictly organic", the actor tweeted.
Fans' Opinions
However, it's still not clear whether Murray's weight loss was the real driving force behind the shift in his voice, and fans expressed their different views on the issue on social media and blogs.
"Losing all that weight and quitting smoking can affect a person's voice", a Reddit user stated. "This is also around the time he got super skinny. Maybe that has something to do with it", said another user. But is there any scientific proof backing this argument?
Scientific Evidence
Surprisingly, a wide range of scientific studies have been carried out regarding the effects that obesity and significant weight loss can have on one's voice.
Director of the Division of Voice and Laryngology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Dr. Reena Gupta has confirmed that obesity can indeed lighten someone's voice, especially in men.
Obesity Lightens The Voice
As Dr. Gupta pionts out, the reason behind this is that an excess in weight activates an increased production and storage of female hormones.
"In men, there is a relatively higher level of female hormones and they respond to this. This can result in a slight lightening of the voice", Grupta explained.
It's A Plausible Explanation
But did Murray really lose that much weight to justify a shift in his pitch? According to Gupta, this is a plausible explanation, especially if we take into account that the relationship between weight loss and one's voice is stronger among men than women.
Even though Murray was far from obese, it's definitely possible that the 25 pounds he lost could've had an impact on the sound of his voice.
Others Believe It Was A Character Choice
This being said, some other fans discredit this scientific explanation, believing that Timothy's raspy voice as of Season 8 was more of a character choice.
Those who support this theory claim that Timothy's hoarser voice proved to be functional to his portrayal as a cool and tough detective, unlike his initial nerdy, soft-spoken characterization.
Different Sides To The Story
There's no arguing with the fact that Timothy McGee's rougher voice made him look way cooler. "[The voice is] part of his new 'cool' image", said another Reddit user.
"Weight loss may change the voice but definitely not to that extreme", wrote another user. As you can see, not everybody bought the whole weight loss theory.
New Rumors
Despite all these rumors, one thing remains the same, and it's fans' love towards Timothy McGee. Therefore, it came as a shock when word came out in 2019 that McGee would possibly be leaving the show.
The show first hinted the character could soon be leaving the Naval Criminal Service in the episode titled Toil and Trouble. McGee confessed to his team that he had received an appealing job offer for a lot more money. But was he written off the show?
Timothy McGee Almost Quit His Job
As you all know, Timothy McGee hasn't left the show - at least, not yet. However, on the episode Judge, Jury, the writers once again hinted that he could possibly leave. This time, McGee visited a state-of-the-art high-tech company in Silicon Valley that was offering him a senior, better-paid job.
Even though he didn't take it, fans were left wondering whether this was meant to foreshadow his future exit from the show. But enough with the mystery: did the actor ever comment on such a rumor?
Murray's Declarations
In an interview with Country Living, actor Murray suggested that his character would surely keep on working for the NCIS team.
He also confirmed that he wasn't planning on quitting, hinting that his continuity was pretty much up to the producers. "I’m under contract right now, so I have no plans to leave the show", Murray affirmed.
He'll Be Sticking Around
As you can see, Murray's character Timothy McFee has been at the center of a few major controversies. However, nothing was enough to derail his major fan base.
As of 2020, NCIS is running its 18th season and it doesn't seem like it'll be coming to an end any time soon, so it's safe to say that McGee will be sticking around in the near future.